John A. Decker, 80, of South Williamsport, died on Friday, August 26, 2022, at Encompass Nittany Valley Rehab Center, Pleasant Gap, PA.
Born October 24, 1941, in Williamsport PA, he was the son of John Albert and Sarah Ella Fiester Decker. John graduated from South Williamsport High School in 1959 and entered the United States Navy, serving until October 1962. After working for the borough of South Williamsport and the South Williamsport Area School District, John spent the rest of his career working on the railroad as a freight train conductor, first for Conrail and then retiring from Norfolk Southern. His lifelong love of trains began with the gift of a Lionel model train set from his parents for his first Christmas.
John was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Some of the other organizations he belonged to include the Lionel Collectors’ Club, the Toy Train Operating Society, the Train Collector’s Association, the Gesang Veronica Harmonia Club, the American Legion Post #1, he was a lifetime member of Citizen’s Fire Co. #2, as well as the Lycoming County Historical Society.
John was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his sisters, Judith Decker, with whom he lived, and Mary McGarvey, of Williamsport. Judy and Mary want to thank his caregiver at home, Stella Clark, for her loving care of John, and also Renee Moore and the outstanding staff of the Presbyterian Home, Williamsport, who cared for John for the last several months.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022 at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 702 W. Fourth St., Williamsport with his pastor, Rev. David W. Bechtel officiating. The family will receive friends and family one hour prior to services, in the church portico. Burial will follow at St. Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery, with full military honors
In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory can be made to St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 711 W. Edwin St., Williamsport PA 17701, or to The Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., STE 800, Miami, FL 33131, or online at http://www.parkinson.org .
